Can-heading machine.



No. 877,358. PATENTED JAN. 21, 1908. 0. 1). MoDONALD.

CAN HEADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9, 1907.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N 877 359. PATENTED JAN. 0. D. MDDONALD. 1908- (JAN HBADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9 1907. 1 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

- UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

CHARLES D. MCDONALD, OF CHICAGO, -ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MCDONALD'MACHINE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

GAN-HEADING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 21, 1908.

Application filed March 9. 1907. Serial No. 361518- T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES D. Mo- DONALD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Heading Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a machine for rapidly and perfectly positioning the heads of cans onto the bodies prior to the soldering operation; and the invention more particularly relates to the construction and arrangement of the clamping mechanism for holding the can heads and bodies in alinement, the mechanism for pressing the can heads into place after the positioning opera tion, the can mechanism for operating the clamping devices and thereafter operating the compressing plates, to the frame of the machine on which the clamping mechanism is mounted, and to the machine as a whole and the individual parts thereof.

The'invention consists in the features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the entire machine showing the frame work partially broken away; Fig. 2 a cross sectional view; Fig. 3 an end elevation showing the runway for the cans; Fig. 4 and Fig. 5

I side elevations of the clamping heads in different positions of adjustments; Fig. 6 a sectional view of the clamping head showing the parts in their final position; Fig. 7 a top or plan view of the clamping mechanism; Fig. 8 a cross sectional view taken on line 88 of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 a sectional detail showing the end of the frame; and Fig. 10 a plan view of the movable clamping yoke.

The machine comprises a table 11 supported upon legs 12, which table has mounted thereon a fixed upright 13 and a movable upright 14 which serve as supports for the rotating portions of the machine. The movable upright 14 is mounted upon a bed plate 15 which is beveled along its edges 16 and is positioned between bevel edged guide bars 17 which are clamped in-place by means of bolts 18, enabling the bed plate to be moved back and forth, as required, and to be clamped in place by screwing down the bolts.-

The adjustment of the bed plate and the upright is accomplished by means of a feed screw 19 entered through a bracket 20 and adapted to be manipulated by means of a hand wheel21. The uprights 13 and 14 have formed on their inner edges circular plates or heads 22, each plate or head having around its edge an inwardly extending rim or flange 23, which rims or flanges are beveled or sloped on one side to provide cams 24, which inwardly extend toward each other on the front side of the machine, as shown in Fig. 1. The shaft 24 has keyed thereto a pair of carrier plates 25, of generally circular formation, one of which is formed integrally with a sleeve 26 which is rotatably mounted within a journal box 27 and is held in suitable position with respect to the shaft by means of a collar 28 which bears against the edge of the journal box 27 and is held in place on the sleeve 26 by means of a set screw 29. The carrier plates 25 are provided around their periphery with semi-circular recesses 30, each of which recesses is surrounded by an outwardly extending attaching flange 31. The recesses serve as sockets for the securing of the clamping mechanism, which more particularly forms the subject matter of the present invention.

Each of the clamping heads comprises a semi-cylindrical head plate 32 which fits into one of the recesses 30 and is held in place by means of a bolt 33 which is entered through the flange 31. The semi-cylindrical head plate has integrally formed therewith a rearwardly extending sleeve 34, the forward end of which merges into a semi-circular disk 35 which is concentric with the sleeve and head plate but of lesser diameter and thickness than the latter, with which it is integrally formed. This construction is best indicated in Fig. 6. The front face of the head plate is hollowed out to provide a semi-cylindrical chamber 36, the rear wall of which is a continuation of the disk 35, having the same curvature as the disk. The chamber 36 is provided with a shoulder 37-near its forward edge, the body of thechamber being of slightly greater diameter than the edge or lip of the chamber. The sleeve 34 has entered therethrough a plunger stem 38 having at its forward end aplunger 39 which operates within the chamber 36, being of substantially the same diameter as the chamber, and the plunger stem is provided at its rear end with a curved head or base 40, between which and the end of the sleeve is interposed a coil spring 41. The sleeve 34 has secured thereto,

near its rear end, a yoke 42, to which are secured ears 43, one on eachside of the sleeve, which ears have entered thereinto guide rods 44, which connect with the head plate 32, the

two guide rods serving as a traokway for the reciprocation of a rider 45. The guide rods 44 are rigidly held. in position by means ofset screws 44 which permit of adjustment when necessary. The rider comprises a body portion 46 of cylindrical formation which is adapted to slide upon the sleeve 34, and the body has upwardly extending therefrom a rib 47 provided with a slot 48 in its rear edge, into which slot is entered and journaled a roller 49. The rider further is provided at its sides with. side arms 50 through which the guide rods are entered, and between the arms on the under side of the rider is a lug 51 into which is entered the outer end of a guide rod 52, the inner end of which is entered through a similarly positioned lug 53 which depends from an inner rider 54 which carries the clamping mechanism. The inner end of the rod 52 is held within the lug 53 by means of a set screw 53 which permits the normal distance between the riders to be varied when desired. Between the lugs 51 and 53 is interposed a coil spring 55, and between the arms 50 and surrounding the guide rods 44 intermediate of the arms 50 and the rear face ofthe head plate, are similar coil springs 56, the function of which will hereinafter appear. The shape of the inner rider 54 is best illustrated in Fig. 8. The body of the rider is of cylindrical formation and the rider is provided, on its upper surface, with laterally extending lugs 57, in front of which is an upwardly extending overhanging plate 58 in a, the form of a half arch, which plate is adapted, when the parts are moved to their forward position, to overhang the recess in the head plate 32 with which the overhanging arch plate cocperates. The arch plate terminates, at its forward edge, in laterally extending ears 59, each of which has formed on its outer end a vertically extending tubular socket 60, which sockets serve as mountings for vertically movable pins 61. The pins are slidably mounted in the sockets, which are held against vertical movement by their connection with the forward rider, and the pins are connected and movable with side brackets 62, through which the pins extend.

Each of the brackets comprises a body portion 63 which registers with the lower end of the adjacent tubular socket, and the body portion has rearwardly extending therefrom inner and outer ears 64 and 65, respectively. The pin brackets are connected and integrally formed with an arch shaped clamping plate 66, shown in Figs. 2 and 6, which clamping plate has the same curvature as the semi-cyllndrical recess 36 in the head 32, and

that a continuous cylindrical recess or socket is provided for the reception of the end of the can body and the cap to be applied thereto. The arched clamping plate 66 is provided with a shoulder 67, in alinement with the shoulder 37 which allows for the increased diameter of the can head with respect to the can body. The lower projecting ends of the pins 6]. are adapted, when the arched plate is moved forward into clamping position, to register with holes 68, formed in the upper surface of the head plate 32, so that, when clamped together, the parts will be held in perfect register during the operation of applying the can head to the body. The inner and outer cars 64 and 65 for the arms 69 of a yoke 70, whichyoke is pivoted to the laterally extending lugs 57, on the forward rider, bymeans of bolts 71. The arms 69 of the yoke 70 extend at right angles with respect to the body portion, which lat-' ter is cut away, as indicated in Fig. 8, sufficiently to overlie the body of the forward rider. Between the yoke and the half arched plate 58 of the forward rider, are interposed coil springs 72 which permit the yoke to be inwardly moved toward the'half arched plate for a purpose to be hereinafter explained. The yoke has entered, through its center, an adjustable set screw 73 which abuts against the rib 47 during all positions of adjustment.

Two clamping heads, of the character heretofore described, constitute the com lete clamping mechanism for each can, anc the companion clamping heads are arranged opposite to each other, as indicated in Fig. 1. it will be understood that the two carrier plates 25, upon which the clamping heads are mounted, are of similar construction, so that it is not deemed necessary to further describe the method of mounting the clamping heads. The cams 24, each of which forms, in effect, a portion of the rim of the circular head plate 22 on which it is formed, have a.

proper curvature to lie in the path of travel of the rollers 49, which roll up the cam 24 on its upper side and roll down said cam on its lower side, as the carrier plates are rotated, and the clamping heads are carried around thereby. Inside of the rim 23 of each of the head plates is a cam 74 which is adapted to press against the heads 40 on the plunger stems 38 as the clamping heads are brought into the" final position in which the heads are compressed onto the body of the can. Power is imparted to the main shaft of the machine by means of a gear wheel 75 meshing with a pinion 76, which derives its motion from a belt wheel 77 of any suitable character.

The can bodies and heads are delivered to the clamping mechanism through a chute 78, which is located above the center of the machine, as indicated in dotted lines in Figs.

v coperating clamping heads.

1 and 2. The clamping mechanism, as it passes the delivery end of the chute, will occupy the position shown in Fig. 4, in which the arched clamping plate is retracted behind the inner edge of the clamping body plate 32, which condition pertains to both sides of the machine, thereby providing a sufficient opening or clearance for the can bodies and heads to be dropped into place within the socket afforded by the companion recesses 36 in the The cans, after having the bodies and heads pressed together, are delivered to a discharge chute or runway 7 9, to be thereafter soldered in any suitable manner.

The operation of the machine may be briefly described as follows: The cans and heads are delivered from the chute at the top rear side of the machine, while the clamping mechanism is in the position shown in Fig. 4. This provides an easy ingress for thecan bodies and heads, which will successively fall in place, as the machine is revolved, and

will be carried down around the front side of the machine. After the can body and the two heads have been positioned, the continued revolution of the clamping heads causes the wheel 49 to bear against the cam track 24, which forces the rider 45 out of its initial position into the position indicated in Fig. 5. This serves to compress the springs 55 and carry forward both the actuating rider 45 and the forward rider 54, along the sleeve 34, as a bearing. This movement will continue until the forward rider has been brought into contact with the rear face of the clamping head 32, as shown in Fig. 5. This movement brings the clamping arch 66 over the head and body of the inserted can, and immediately above the recess in the clamping head. After the parts have assumed this position, a continued revolution of the mechanism serves to compress the springs 55 and 72 and bring the actuating and forward riders into abutment with one another, as shown in Fig. 5. This movement throws forward the yoke and throws down the yoke arms 69, in the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6, which movement of the yoke arms carries down the arched clamping plate and with it the pins 61 which enter the recesses 68, in the upper face of the clamping head. The pivotal joint, between the yoke arms and the ears between which they are pivoted, is sufficiently loose to permit the necessary play of the parts in performing this operation. With the parts in their final clamping position, the acting inner face of the arched clamp cooperates with the semicylindrical recess in the clamping head to provide a full cylindrical recess, which tightly hold and re-inforce the end of the can body and position the can head in exact alinement therewith, holding the parts firmly and preventing vibration or displacement during the operation of driving the head into place. The head, being of slightly larger diameter than the end of the can, occupies the enlarged space within the shoulders 37 and 67, which formation of the parts affords to both the body and heads a tight contact around their entire periphery. The final positioning of the can head is effected by a forward thrust of the plunger 39, which is actuated by means of the cam 74, with which the head of the plunger stem is brought in contact after the clamping operation has been fully effected. After the heads have been thus positioned on each end of the can bodies, the continued revolution of the machine carries the head 40 and wheel 49 out of contact with the cams 74 and 24, respectively, allowing the springs to act, which restores the clamp ing mechanism to its initial position and al lows the headed can to fall by gravity from the machine at its lower forward side.

The machine can be adjusted to accommodate can bodies of different lengths by loosening the clamping bars 17 and thereafter turning the adjusting wheel, as required, which advancesor retracts the movable upright 14 and with it the sleeve 26 and carrier plate 25, thereby increasing or decreasing the space between the two carrier plates to any desired degree. The machine, as a whole, is of extremely compact and symmetrical structure,

so that it can be installed in a very small space and operated ata high'rate of speed with the expenditure of a small amount of power. The action of the clamping mechanism is easy, uniform, certain, and entirely noiseless, the spring mechanism serving to prevent any jarring or vibration of the parts. The heavy formation of the clainping head and clamping arch insures great rigidity and exactness in the positioning of the cans, which is of great importance, in view of the fact that it is essential that the can heads be correctly positioned in preparation for the final operation of driving them into place. The clamping mechanism can be adjusted to limit the movement of its various parts by loosening the set screws 44 and 53 a and ad justing the guide rods 44 and 52 accordingly. This permits the degree of movement of the clamping arch to be properly adjusted without difficulty, and the set screws serve to hold the parts in proper position after adjustment.

The mechanism is so constructed and operated as to give a direct forward and back movement parallel with the aXis of a can, and a direct clamping movement at right angles thereto. This direct clamping movement causes the clamping arch to engagethe can rim and head at all points simultaneously, and in a manner which prevents the displacement of a can head, the movement being one which grips and forces the can head directly against the curved walls of the semicylindrical chamber in the head plate. In this manner no displacement of the can head is possible, and the degree of the clamping movement can be reduced to a minimum, since the movement is in a direct, rather than in a diagonal, line with respect to the can head.

l/Vhat I regard as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a fixed socket portion adapted to receive the body and head of a can, a movable clamping portion having a straight line forward and back movement in a line substantially parallel with the axis of a can and having a straight line clamping move ment at substantially right angles to the axis of a can and adapted to cooperate with the I fixed socket portion to surround and clamp the body and head of a can, and means for driving the can head into place after the clamping operation, substantially as described.

2. In a machine of the class described, the

combination of a fixed socket portion adapt ed to receive the body and head. of a can, a movable clamping portion having a straight line forward and back movement in a line substantially parallel with the axis of a can and having a straight line clamping movement at substantially right angles to the axis "of a can and adapted to cooperate with the fixed socket portion to surround and clamp the body and head of a can, and a plunger adapted to drive the head of the can into place after the clamping operation, substantially as described.

3. In a machine of 'the class described, the combination of a'fixed socket portion adapted to receive the body and head of a can, a movable clamping portion having a straight line forward and back movement in a line substantially parallel with the axis of a can and having a straight line clamping movement at substantially right angles to the axis of a can and adapted to cooperate with the fixed socket portion to surround and clamp the body and head of a can, a plunger adapted to drive the head of the can into place after the clamping operation, a cam for actuating the movable clamping mechanism, and a cam for thereafter actuating the plunger, substantially as described.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a fixed socket portion adapted to receive the body and head. of a can, a movable clamping portion having a straight line forward and back movement in a line substantially parallel with the axis of a can and having a straight line clamping move ment at substantially right angles to the axis of a can, and adapted to cooperate with a fixed socket portion to surround and clamp the body and head of a can, a plunger adapted to drive the head of the can into place clamping mechanism comprising a after the clamping operation, a rotatable carrier upon which the clamping mechanism is mounted, a fixed cam adapted to actuate the clamping mechanism during the rotation thereof, and a fixed cam adapted to similarly actuate the plunger after the clamping operation, substantially as described.

5. Ina machine of the class described, the combination of two carrier plates, companion clamping mechanism on each of the carrier plates adapted to apply heads on opposite ends of the same can body, each fixed socket portion adapted to have one end of the can body and head dropped thereinto, a clamping portion having a straight line back and forth movement in a line substantially parallel with the axis of a can, and adapted to be initially retracted to permit the insertion of the can body and head into the socket portion, said clamping portion also having an independent straight line clamping movement at substantially right angles to the axis of a can, a fixed cam adapted to move the clamping portion forward and thereafter impart a clamping movement to such portion, and means for thereafter driving the can head into place, substantially as described.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of two carrier plates, companion clamping mechanism on each of the carrier plates adapted to apply heads on opposite ends of the same can body, each clamping mechanism comprising a fixed socket portion adapted to have one end of the can body and head dropped thereinto, a clamping portion having a straight line back and forth movement in a line substantially parallel with the axis of a can and adapted to be initially retracted to permit the insertion of the can body and head into the socket portion, said clamping portion also having an independent straight line clamping movement at substantially right angles to the axis of a can, a fixed cam adapted to move the clamping portion forward and thereafter impart a clamping movement to such portion, a plunger adapted to drive the can head into place, and a cam for actuating the plunger, substantially as described.

7. In a machine of the class described, a header mechanism comprising a fixed socket portion having in its face a semicylindrical recess, a tubular sleeve rearwardly 'extending from the socket portion, a plunger head operable within the recessed portion and having a stem slidably mounted within the tubular sleeve, a rider slidably mounted on the sleeve, an arched clamping portion adapted to cooperate with the recessed socket portion, a mounting connected with the rider for said arched clamping portion, permitting a straight line clamping movement with respect to the recessed socket,

cess, a tubular means for moving the rider back and forth along the tubular sleeve, and means for imparting a clamping motion to the arched clamping portion, substantially as described. 8. In a machine of the class described, a header mechanism comprising a fixed socket portion having in its face a semi-cylindrical recess, a tubular sleeve rearwardly extending from the socket portion, a plunger head operable within the recessed portion and having 'a stem slidably mounted within the tubular sleeve, a rider slidably mounted on the sleeve, an arched clamping portion adapted to cooperate with the recessed socket portion, a mounting connected with the rider for said arched clamping portion, permitting a straight line clamping movement with respect to the recessed socket, means for moving the rider back and forth along the tubular sleeve, a yoke pivoted to the rider and having a pivotal connection with the arched clamping portion for imparting thereto a clamping movement, substantially as described.

9. In a machine of the class described, a

header mechanism comprising a fixed socket portion having therein a semi-cylindrical resleeve rearwardly extending from the socket portion, a plunger operable within the recess and having a plunger stem slidably mounted within the tubular sleeve, a forward rider slid ably mounted on the tubular sleeve and having formed therewith an overhanging supporting plate, guideways connected with the overhanging plate, pins entered through the .guideways, an arched clamping portion connected with the pins and having a straight line movement with respect to the recessed socket portion, a yoke pivotally mounted to the rider and pivotally connected with the pins, an actuating rider slidably mounted on the tubular sleeve and adapted to initially thrust forward the forward rider and thereafter thrust forward the yoke to bring the arched clamping portion into clamping relation with the recessed socket, substantially as described.

10. In a machine of the class described, a header mechanism comprising a fixed socket portion having therein a semi-cylindrical recess, a tubular sleeve rearwardly extending from the socket portion, a plunger operable within the recess and having a plunger stem slidably mounted within the tubular sleeve, a forward rider slidably mounted on the tubular sleeve and having formed therewith an overhanging supporting plate, guideways connected with the overhanging plate, pins entered through the guideways, an arched clamping portion connected with the pins and having a straight line movement with respect to the recessed socket portion, a yoke pivotally mounted to the rider and pivotally connected with the pins, an actuating rider slidably mounted on the tubular sleeve and adapted to initially thrust forward the forward rider and thereafter thrust forward the yoke to bring the arched clamping portion into clamping relation with the recessed socket, and. springs for returning the parts to normal position, substantially as described.

11. In a machine of the class described, a header mechanism comprising a fixed socket portion having therein. a semi-cylindrical recess, a tubular sleeve rearwardly extending from the socket portion, a plunger operable within the recess and having a plunger stem slid ably mounted within the tubular sleeve, a forward rider slidably mounted on the tubular sleeve and having formed therewith an overhanging supporting plate, guideways connected with the overhanging plate, ins entered through the guideways, an arc ed clamping portion connected with the pins and having a straight line movement with respect to the recessed socket portion, a yoke pivotally mounted to the rider and pivotally connected with the pins, an actuating rider slidably mounted on the tubular sleeve and adapted to initially thrust forward the forward rider and thereafter thrust forward the yoke to bring the arched clamping portion into clamping relation with the recessed socket, springs for returning the parts to normal position, a rotatable carrier plate to which the recessed socket portion is connected, a fixed cam for imparting movement to the actuating rider, and a fixed cam for thereafter imparting a forward thrust to the plunger stem, substantially as described.

12. In a machine of the class described, a clamping mechanism comprising a recessed socket portion, an arched clamping portion, a guideway for the arched clamping portion adapted to permit a straight line forward and back movement with respect to the recessed socket, and a guideway for the arched clamping portion for giving thereto a straight line clamping movement toward and from the socket portion at right angles to the forward and backward movement, substantially as described. 7

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a recessed socket, a clamping arch cooperating therewith, a guideway for the clamping arch permitting a direct up and down clamping movement with respect to the socket, and a guideway, upon which the first mentioned guideway is slidably mounted, for affording a back and forth movement with respect to the recessed socket andv at right angles to the clamping movement, substantially as described.

14. In a machine of the class described, a clamping mechanism comprising a recessed socket, a clamping arch cooperating therewith, a guideway for the clamping arch permitting a direct up and down clamping movement with respect to the socket, a tubular sleeve rearwardly extending from the socket, a rider with which the first mentioned guideway is connected, said rider being slidably mounted on the sleeve, and means for imparting a forward thrust to the rider and thereafter imparting a clamping movement to the clamping arch, substan tially as described.

15. In a machine of the class described, a clamping mechanism comprising a recessed socket, a tubular sleeve rearwardly extending therefrom, a plunger head operable within the recess in the socket and having a stem entered through the sleeve, aclamping arch, upwardly extending pins rigidly connected with the clamping arch on opposite sides thereof, tubular mountings for the pins, a rider slidably mounted on the tubular sleeve, a connection between the rider and the tubular mountings, a yoke pivotally connected with the plus, an actuating rider slidably mounted on the tubular sleeve, side guide rods for positioning the actuating rider, coil springs surrounding the side rods and adapt. ed to return the actuating rider to normal position, a center guide rod slidably connecting the two riders, a coil spring surrounding the said rod intermediate of the two riders, a spring for returning the yoke to normal 'osition, and a fiangeon the actuating ri er adapted to exert pressure against the yoke, substantially as described.

CHAR LES D. MoDONALD.

Witnesses:

WALKER BANNING, SAMUEL W. BANNING. 

